Consecutive number printing in the folding section of a rotary envelope machine

ABSTRACT

In the envelope blank folding and sticking section of a conventional rotary envelope machine, one of the lower bed rollers is axially split on the shaft and a standard sequential number-printing head mounted between the split sections for rotation on the shaft into the paper plane. The printing head cooperates with the upper cylinder normally engaging the bed roller for printing consecutive numbers on the blanks as they pass through the section in the usual manner. The shaft carrying the printing head is reduced in effective diameter at the headmounting position to permit the correct radial distance from the shaft axis to the plane of the blanks, otherwise not obtainable with a standard printing head.

United States Patent l 1 l l 1 Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee CONSECUTIVE NUMBER PRINTING IN THE FOLDING SECTION OF A ROTARY ENVELOPE MACHINE 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

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Field ofSearch l0l/76,77, 74, 75, 72

Primary Examiner-Lucie H, Laudenslager AuorneyFishbum, Gold and Litman ABSTRACT: In the envelope blank folding and sticking section of a conventional rotary envelope machine, one of the lower bed rollers is axially split on the shaft and a standard sequential number-printing head mounted between the split sections for rotation on the shaft into the paper plane. The printing head cooperates with the upper cylinder normally engaging the bed roller for printing consecutive numbers on the blanks as they pass through the section in the usual manner. The shaft carrying the printing head is reduced in effective diameter at the head-mounting position to permit the correct radial distance from the shaft axis to the plane of the blanks, otherwise not obtainable with a standard printing head.

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INVENTOR. Joseph M. Hu+chinson ATTORNEYS CONSECUTIVE NUMBER PRINTING IN THE FOLDING SECTION OF A ROTARY ENVELOPE MACHINE This invention relates to the printing of consecutive numbers or other symbols on envelope blanks and more particularly to a modified envelope-making machine incorporating such a sequential printing device into the folding and sticking section thereof.

Prior hereto, the production of envelopes having sequential numbers or other symbols printed thereon required the printing of the envelope blanks before feeding into the envelope machine, printing on the completed envelopes, or printing at modified aniline ink-printing stations within the envelope machine (see copending application Ser. No. 779,966 owned by the assignee herein). Each of these methods, particularly the first two, are expensive, excessively time consuming or often otherwise impractical.

In the practice of this invention, a standard consecutive number or symbol-printing device and oil ink fountain are conveniently incorporated into a section of a rotary envelope machine heretofore unrelated to a printing operation. In the illustrated example, a conventional rotary envelope machine incorporates sequential printing apparatus within the folding and sticking section thereof and sequential printing is performed without interference with the normal function of the section or envelope machine in general.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide sequential number or symbol printing on envelope blanks during normal travel through a nonprinting section of a rotary envelope machine; to provide an arrangement for this purpose utilizing a standard sequential printer which is easily added to and removed from the machine as desired; and to provide apparatus for producing high quality consecutive number printing on envelopes with a reduction in time and cost.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partially schematic cross-sectional side elevation through the folding and sticking section of a conventional rotary envelope machine modified in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary, cross-sectional side elevation similar to FIG. 1 and taken on the line 2-2, FIG. 3, showing the printing head and a portion of the inking mechanism therefor.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary, cross-sectional front elevation showing mounting details of the printing head.

Referring to the drawings in more detail:

The reference numeral 1 generally indicates a fragmentary portion of a well-known rotary envelope machine, in this example a Winkler and Dunnebier Type 260. The machine I includes an elongated frame 2 having an upper working surface or bed 3 upon which various operations on envelope blanks 4 are normally automatically performed at high speed.

In the fragmentary showing of FIG. I, the folding and sticking section ofthe envelope machine is schematically illustratcd and designated with the reference numeral 5. The section 5 operates on the blanks 4 as they are driven along the bed 3 and includes a plurality of rotatable lower shafts 6-10 mounted on the frame 2 below the bed 3 and adapted to carry respective normally metallic bed rollers 1115 peripherally into the paper line or bed plane. A plurality of rotatable upper cylinders l620, normally of metal or rubber, are mounted on the frame 2 and positioned to cooperate with the respective bed rollers 1ll5 for various operations including driving the envelope blanks 4 through the section 5 on the bed 3. Upon leaving the folding and sticking section 5, the blanks are engaged by a delivery wheel 21 from which they are normally continuously stacked in the form of finished envelopes 22 on a delivery table 23.

During travel through the folding and sticking section 5 side laps of the previously scored blanks 4 are turned inwardly by finished envelope is accepted by the delivery wheel 21 as above noted.

In the practice of this invention, the bed roller 13 is suitably modified or replaced whereby it assumes the form of a pair of axially spaced apart cylindrical sections 29 and 30 (FIG. 3) both mounted on the shaft 8 and exposing said shaft in the desired position for mounting sequential number or symbolprinting head 31. Since the bed roller 13 is usually hollow, provision must be made for supporting the separated sections, or as illustrated, solid sections may be used. The printing head 31 may be a standard device, such as one of the types manufactured by the Atlantic Numbering Machine Corporation, Brooklyn, New York, in this example, having a dovetail mount 32 at the bottom. A characteristic of such printing heads is a predetermined distance between the mount and the paper contacting periphery 33 of the form wheels 34 which is too great to permit known anchoring methods at the normal surface of the shaft 8. To overcome this, the shaft 8 is effectively reduced in diameter or necked down at 35 over an axial length generally equal to the width of the printing head 31. A dovetail-reeeiving clamp 36 is secured at the reduced diameter area and the dovetail mount 32 received therein, placing the periphery 33 at the desired radial position for movement into the plane of the bed 3 upon each rotation of the shaft 8.

A cam 37 is received over a central core 38 which is fixed on the shaft 8 adjacent the clamp 36. Suitable bearings 39 are interposed between the core 38 and cam 37 permitting the relative rotation therebetween. By anchoring the cam 37 as by an arm 40 secured at opposite ends to the cam and to a fixed portion of the frame 2, a relative rotation between the cam 37 and the printing head 31 results upon turning the shaft 8. By engaging the cam follower tipped actuating arm 41 of the printing head 31 with the cam 37, the actuating arm 41 reciprocates radially, causing the form wheels 34 to sequentially precess during each rotation of the shaft 8 in a known manner.

The cylinder 18 is preferably of rubber for the practice of this invention to provide a nondamaging backup surface for the form wheels 34. The major portion of the cylinder 18 continues to cooperate with the sections 29 and 30 of the bed roller 13 in the usual manner.

Ink is preferably supplied to the printing head 31 by an oil ink fountain 42, for example of the general type illustrated in US. Pat. No. 2,929,319 having a relatively soft applicator roll 43 positioned for engaging the form wheels 34 upon each revolution of the printing head on the shaft 8. A roller segment 44 is mounted on the clamp 36 adjacent the head 31 and functions as a partial bed roller between the sections 29 and 30 to help maintain the moving blanks 4 in proper relation with the bed 3. The effective radius of the periphery 45 of the segment 44 is slightly less than that of symbol forms of the wheels 34 so that no contact will be made with the ink applicator roll 43.

In operation, the machine 1 functions in the usual manner, however, as the respective blanks are driven through the folding and sticking section 5, sequential numbers are printed thereon by the apparatus above described.

It is to be understood that, although one form of this invention has been illustrated and described, it is not to be limited specifically thereto.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with an envelope-making machine having an elongated frame with a bed upon which envelope blanks travel during operations therein:

a. an envelope blank transporting section associated with said frame, said section including a plurality of rotatable lower shafts mounted on said frame below said bed and normally carrying bed rollers peripherally into the plane of said bed, said section including a plurality of rotatable upper cylinders mounted on said frame and positioned to cooperate with said respective bed rollers to drive envelope blanks through said section in said bed,

. a sequential symbol-printing head mounted on one of said lower shafts with one of said bed rollers for rotation peripherally into the plane of said bed, said one bed roller being axially shorter than adjacent bed rollers, said head having sequencing symbol forms radially positioned from said one shaft for cooperation with the respective upper cylinder for printing symbols on blanks passing therebetween,

c. stationary cam means adjacent said one shaft and in cooperative relation with said head for actuating said symbol forms upon rotation of said head, and

d. an ink fountain mounted on said frame and positioned to supply ink to said symbol forms upon rotation of said head out of the plane of said bed.

2. In combination with an envelope-making machine having an elongated frame with a bed upon which envelope blanks travel during operations therein:

a. an envelope blank transporting section associated with said frame, said section including a plurality of rotatable lower shafts mounted on said frame below said bed and normally carrying bed rollers peripherally into the plane of said bed, said section including a plurality of rotatable upper cylinders mounted on said frame and positioned to cooperate with said respective bed,

b. a sequential symbol-printing head mounted on one of said lower shafts with one of said bed rollers for rotation peripherally into the plane of said bed, said one bed roller comprising a pair of bed roller portions spaced apart on opposite sides of said printing head, said head having sequencing symbol forms radially positioned from said one shaft for cooperation with the respective upper cylinder for printing symbols on blanks passing an elongated frame with a bed upon which envelope blanks travel during operations therein:

a. an envelope blank transporting section associated with said frame, said section including a plurality of rotatable lower shafts mounted on said frame below said bed and normally carrying bed rollers peripherally into the plane of said bed, said section including a plurality of rotatable upper cylinders mounted on said frame and positioned to cooperate with said respective bed rollers to drive envelope blanks through said section on said bed,

b. a sequential symbol-printing head mounted on one of said lower shafts for rotation peripherally into the plane of said bed, said head having sequencing symbol forms radially positioned from said one shaft for cooperation with the respective upper cylinder for printing symbols on blanks passing therebetween, said printing head being greater in radial length than the distance between the normal periphery of said one shaft to the bed plane, said one shaft being reduced in radius in the area of printing head mounting whereby said symbol forms rotate tangentially into the bed plane,

. stationary cam means adjacent said one shaft and in cooperative relation with said head for actuating said symbol forms upon rotation of said head, and g d. an Ink fountain mounted on said frame and positioned to supply ink to said symbol forms upon rotation of said head out of the plane of said bed.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein:

a. the reduced radius area of said one shaft is a neckeddown portion, and

b. a printing head mounting clamp is secured to said necked-down portion. 

1. In combination with an envelope-making machine having an elongated frame with a bed upon which envelope blanks travel during operations therein: a. an envelope blank transporting section associated with said frame, said section including a plurality of rotatable lower shafts mounted on said frame below said bed and normally carrying bed rollers peripherally into the plane of said bed, said section including a plurality of rotatable upper cylinders mounted on said frame and positioned to cooperate with said respective bed rollers to drive envelope blanks through said section in said bed, b. a sequential symbol-printing head mounted on one of said lower shafts with one of said bed rollers for rotation peripherally into the plane of said bed, said one bed roller being axially shorter than adjacent bed rollers, said head having sequencing symbol forms radially positioned from said one shaft for cooperation with the respective upper cylinder for printing symbols on blanks passing therebetween, c. stationary cam means adjacent said one shaft and in cooperative relation with said head for actuating said symbol forms upon rotation of said head, and d. an ink fountain mounted on said frame and positioned to supply ink to said symbol forms upon rotation of said head out of the plane of said bed.
 2. In combination with an envelope-making machine having an elongated frame with a bed upon which envelope blanks travel during operations therein: a. an envelope blank transporting section associated with said frame, said section including a plurality of rotatable lower shafts mounted on said frame below said bed and normally carrying bed rollers peripherally into the plane of said bed, said section including a plurality of rotatable upper cylinders mounted on said frame and positioned to cooperate with said respective bed, b. a sequential symbol-printing head mounted on one of said lower shafts with one of said bed rollers for rotation peripherally into the plane of said bed, said one bed roller comprising a pair of bed roller portions spaced apart on opposite sides of said printing head, said head having sequencing symbol forms radially positioned from said one shaft for cooperation with the respective upper cylinder for printing symbols on blanks passing therebetween, c. stationary cam means adjacent said one shaft and in cooperative relation with said head for actuating said symbol forms upon rotation of said head, and d. an ink fountain mounted on said frame and positioned to supply ink to said symbol forms upon rotation of said head out of the plane of said bed.
 3. In combination with an envelope-making machine having an elongated frame with a bed uPon which envelope blanks travel during operations therein: a. an envelope blank transporting section associated with said frame, said section including a plurality of rotatable lower shafts mounted on said frame below said bed and normally carrying bed rollers peripherally into the plane of said bed, said section including a plurality of rotatable upper cylinders mounted on said frame and positioned to cooperate with said respective bed rollers to drive envelope blanks through said section on said bed, b. a sequential symbol-printing head mounted on one of said lower shafts for rotation peripherally into the plane of said bed, said head having sequencing symbol forms radially positioned from said one shaft for cooperation with the respective upper cylinder for printing symbols on blanks passing therebetween, said printing head being greater in radial length than the distance between the normal periphery of said one shaft to the bed plane, said one shaft being reduced in radius in the area of printing head mounting whereby said symbol forms rotate tangentially into the bed plane, c. stationary cam means adjacent said one shaft and in cooperative relation with said head for actuating said symbol forms upon rotation of said head, and d. an ink fountain mounted on said frame and positioned to supply ink to said symbol forms upon rotation of said head out of the plane of said bed.
 4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein: a. the reduced radius area of said one shaft is a necked-down portion, and b. a printing head mounting clamp is secured to said necked-down portion. 